The People's Briefing

A daily briefing by our Democratic leaders

Imagine this: Every morning, Americans turn on the TV and reliably see their unified opposition movement leaders discussing Trump’s latest tyrannical moves and their efforts to push back.

Democratic leaders in Congress should hold a daily “People’s Briefing” to reassure Americans in these unprecedented times. Daily press briefings are common in moments of national distress. During the recent Los Angeles fires, city officials held dozens of press conferences—each an opportunity to provide residents and concerned Americans with the latest news and, perhaps more importantly, the reassurance that leaders were accountable to them.

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (who was then seen as a powerful and appreciated countervoice to Trump) held daily press briefings to share critical updates and explain what his administration was doing to combat the virus. This may be our best precedent for the current moment. The nation was in crisis, and people were yearning for someone they could trust. Meanwhile, the White House—then, as now—held daily briefings that focused more on attacking reporters and spreading misinformation than on showing concern for a nation in peril.

I worked as a congressional communications staffer for many years. Congress has the resources and space to conduct these briefings. The Democratic caucus is wonderfully diverse, and these briefings should showcase that diversity, rotating speakers and highlighting representatives in a way the American people don’t always get to see. These leaders are doctors, lawyers, constitutional scholars, nurses, educators, veterans, labor leaders, and community organizers—people who can connect with everyday Americans if they choose to reveal that side of themselves.

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Right now, Democrats in Congress are being criticized for failing to show visible leadership in the midst of a constitutional crisis. A daily briefing would go a long way toward changing that perception. It should be streamed on every platform—YouTube, TikTok, Instagram—and pushed for broad coverage on cable news.

Americans have been conditioned to turn to the president in times of national crisis—a man in a suit sitting behind the Resolute Desk, speaking directly to us. But this time, the president is the crisis.

A daily briefing, grounded in the democratic principles of truth and accountability—values we cherish and fear losing—would meet this moment. It would equip everyday Americans (who are eager for this) with the knowledge to get involved and fight back. I recently wrote about how Congress functions through the people. House members and senators are there to be accountable to us. The power of living in a democracy is that everyone has a voice.

These are extraordinary times, and only an organized opposition movement can provide real pushback against a strongman leader. We still have democratic representatives in Congress. We need them to show leadership and guidance now more than ever.

I’m aware that historian Timothy Snyder has proposed a “People’s Cabinet.” While this idea is slightly different, I think the name is perfect for the moment. It’s an opportunity for Democrats to reclaim the label of the party that stands for the people—wresting it from Trump, whose governance has shown nothing but disdain for everyday Americans.